Electric switch



Dec. 10, 1946. l T. M. COLE 2,412,494

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed June 8, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l *Il MII inullnlmull-ammuni- 66 /q d5 THQ/VA s M. COLE :inventor (Ittorneg Dec. 1o, 1946. T, M, COLE 2,412,494

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed June 8, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2l 77/0/7/15 M. CLE

lwentor Gttorncg Dec. 10, 1946. T. M. COLE ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed June. 8, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w vill/111111111rllnnlillrlvll flllllllllll;

THOMAS /7 COLE 3nnentor (Ittorneg Patented Dec. 10, 1946 ELECTRIC SWITCH Thomas M. Cole, New York, N. Y., assigner to Cole Industries, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a

corporation Application .lune 8, 1943, Serial No. 490,019

(Cl. 20G-50) s Claims. 1

This invention relates to electric switches.

One object of the present invention is to provide a switch with an interlock device which normally prevents the switch casing-cover from being opened when the switch is closed and which prevents the switch from being closed when the switch casing-cover is open, but which can be released to permit the switch casing-cover to be opened while the switch is closed. In this connection, it will be understood that it is sometimes necessary to obtain access to the interior of the switch casing without opening the switch, and it will be understood further that in accordance with this object of the invention, the interlock device while normally operative to prevent the switch casing-cover from being opened when the switch is closed is so constituted as to enable those familiar with the construction of the interlock device to release the switch casing-cover while the switch is closed, while on the other hand, the switch casing-cover is locked in closed position when the switch is closed, so that those unfamiliar with the construction or operation of the interlocking devices are not able to open the cover without first opening the switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide an interlock device which is associated more or less directly with the operating handle of the switch in such manner as to prevent actuation of said handle. More particularly, in accordance with the present invention, the interlock device acts more or less directly upon the handle to prevent opening of the switch casing-cover when the switch is closed and to prevent closing of the switch when the switch casing-cover is opened, thus eliminating one of the objections to prior interlocking devices in which the latter are associated more or less directly with the switch operating mechanism, with the disadvantage that such mechanism is partially actuated and apt to be impaired when attempts are made to close the switch while the casing-cover .is open or to open the casing-cover when the switch is closed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved quick-make and quick-break switch operating mechanism.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front View, in elevation, of a switch embodying the present invention, the switch be ing open and the casing-cover being in its open position;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the switch, showing the position of the operating handle in the open condition of the switch, the casing-cover being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view of the switch, the casing-cover being in closed position and the operating handle being in switch-open position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, the cover being in closed position;

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 8, the cover being in closed position and the handle being in switch-closed position and the interlock device being in its normal position for preventing the opening of the switch casing-cover;

Fig. 1l is a View similar to Fig. 10, illustrating the release of the interlock device to permit the switch casing-cover to be opened while the switch is closed;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 3, the switch being opened;

Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. 12, the switch being closed;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line M-I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 15 is a rear view, in elevation, of the insulation block which carries the stationary contact members of the switch;

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view on the line lli-I5 of Fig. 1 showing the bearing for one end of the switch operating rod;

Fig. 17 is a side View of an insulation disk carrying a movable contact member of another form;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view on the line IS--IS of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is an edge view of the insulation disk and movable contact member shown in Fig. 1'?.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the electric switch embodying the present invention comprises a casing Ill which houses the switch contact members and the switch-operating mechanism. More particularly, the switch proper comprises an insulation block l2 in which are mounted a plurality of sets of stationary contact members It, la (Fig. 15), there being a companion movable contact member` i6 which, in the closed position of the switch, illustrated in Fig. 3, engages between the companion stationary contact members i4 and Isla. The movable contact member i6 is carried by an insulation disk I8 mounted on the iiat operating rod 20, so as to be turnable with said rod about the longitudinal axis of the latter whereby turning movement of said rod about its longitudinal axis in opposite directions opens and closes the switch. Said rod is mounted at its opposite ends in bearings 22 and 24 which are secured in any suitable way, as by welding the same to the bottom 26 of the switch casing lil. The switch'proper is of substantially the same construction as that disclosed in United States Letters latent No. 2,289.219, and therefore requires no further de scription. It will be noted that, as in said patent, the bearing members 22 and 24 for the opposite ends of operating rod 2l) are provided with knife edge bearings 28 as shown in Fig. 16 in reference to bearing member 22, it being understood that bearing member 2@ is likewise provided with said knife edge bearings 28, as illustrated in said patent.

Referring now more particularly to the operating mechanism, for actuating rod 2t for'opening and closing the switch, said operating mechanism comprises an operating member 33` which is pivotally mounted adjacent the inner surface of the side wall 32 of the switch casing on a pivot pin 3&3. Said operating member 3@ comprises the disk-like p-art 35 and the radially extending handle part 33 which is preferably integral with part 35. As illustrated in Fig. 8, a plate @il is fixed to rod 2) and is connected to operating member 3U by a link d2, one end of said link being pivotally connected to plate di] by the pin Afl, and the other end of said link having a slot QS in which a pin i8 carried byoperating member 3B is engaged. Plate iii is provided with an arm 50 which Vis connected to a spring projected rod 52, said arm t being provided with a slot 5L! in which one end of said rod is pivotallyV engaged, the other end of said rod being slidable in a bracket 55 secured to side wall 32 of the casing. The spring for projecting rod 52 and for opposing the movement of said rod is indicated at 58, one end of said spring bearing on bracket 55, and the other end of said spring bearing on the end oi the rod which is connected to arm 5@ of plate di). It will be observed that plate and spring projected rod 52 constitute a toggle which is overcentered by the operation of operating member 3@ and that said toggle together with said operating member provides a quick-make and a quickbreak mechanism for the switch. Slot 4t in member Q2 permits ,the toggle to operate with a snap action independently of handle 3S after said toggle is overcentered in either direction by operation of said handle.

The interlock device comprises a member Si) (Figs. 8 to 11) here shown as a bell crank lever pivotally mounted adjacent casing wall 32 on va pivot pin S2 iixed to said Wall. One arm Eli oi' member Eil is provided with a hooked end or detent portion 66 which is engageable in a recess @3 provided in the peripheral edge of disk part et of operating memb-er 38. held in said recess by a tension spring l which is secured at its opposite ends to casing wall 32 and to arm tilt, respectively. It will be noted that in the position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 8, the switch being open and the casing-cover being Said detent t'is in open position, detent being projected in recess 68 prevents movement oi the operating member 3l] for closing the switch, said movement of operating member 3d for closing the switch being in a counter-clockwise position viewing Fig. 8. In order to permit .the switch to be closed, it is necessary to move member 68 from the position illustrated in Fig. 8 to the position illustrated in Fig. 9, whereby to retract or disengage detent St from holding relation with operating member 33. This is accomplished automatically when the casing-cover Si, which is hinged on the switch casing as indicated at ld, is closed. The manner in which this is `acconmlished Will now be described. The arm 'i6 of interlock member @il is provided with an open-end slot lil and a detent portion Si?. The interlock device comprises a member 82 illustrated in detail in Figs. 5 to '7. As here shown said member 82 comprises the are s 8d and 85 and is pivotally mount-ed on the inner surface oi casing-cover 'i2' by the pin-like extensions 53 which are engaged in the bearing portions Sii of the holding or bearing member S2 which is secured to the inner surface of cover l2 in any suitable way as by a screw 9d. As-shown in Fig. 6, arm Sil is provided with an opening 9S. Upon the closing oi cover l2, when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 9, the switch being open, :the edge 88 of arm 3iengages arm 'it of member 6% in slot i3 thereof and thereby swings said arm in a Vclockwise direction, viewing Figs. S to 10, thereby moving arm tl of member Sil from the position illustrated in Fig. S to the position illustrated in Fig. Y9, thus releasing detent t from operating member St and thereby freeing said operating member for movement to the switch-closing position illustrated in Fig. 10. At the same rtime, hook or detent t@ of arm l5 engages the interlock member t2 in the opening Qt of arm lll of said interlock member, and thus prevents the casing-cover l2 from being opened while the switch is ciosed. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 9 that when the switch is open, the casing cover can be moved to open position because although detent Sil is engaged in opening Bt o detent member 32, detent member 65 can be movedV in a counter-clockwisedirection by the engagement of the inner edge St of member S with 'the vbevelled edge itil? of detent B of member til, since the open side of recess Yt8 of member is opposite' detent 5t of interlock member @il When, however, `the switch is closed as illustrated in Fig. 10, detent member St can not be moved in a counter-clockwise direction, since recess S8 is out of registry with detent member @t of interlock member 6@ and said detent member is opposed or engaged by the peripheral edge of disk portion t of operating member 3d.

As hereinbefore indicated a specialfeature of the present invention resides in making provision to enable the casing-cover to be opened while the switch is closed so that those familiar with the construction of the interlock device may open the casing-cover without Vopening the switch. For this purpose, the interlock member is pivotally mounted as described above and provision is made for access to said interlock member S2 through the closed cover for moving the same to cover-releasing position in relation to interlock member 6G. For this purpose an opening li iS provided in the ange portion It?V and an opening lll@ is provided in the upper edge of casing Wall 32, said openings being in alignment when the casing-cover is closed. Accordingly, when it is desired to open the casing-cover without opening the switch, a pin or a key can be insert-ed through openings |04 and IDI to engage arm 84 of interlock member 82 for pivotally moving the same in a counter-clockwise direction (viewing Figs. and 11) from the position illustrated in Fig. 10 to the position illustrated in Fig. l1, out of engagement with detent Bil, thus freeing said interlock member 82 from detent 8B so that the casing-cover can be opened while the switch remains closed. A spring |06 is secured to the inner surface of the casing-cover in any suitable way as by a screw |08 and bears on arm 8S of interlock member |32l for holding said interlock member in the normal position thereof illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 and for resiliently opposing the movement of said interlock member for releasing arm 84 thereof from the detent 8S of the companion interlock member 60. It will be noted that if the switch is closed and the casing cover is in open position, said cover can be readily closed merely by moving the same to closed position since the interlock member can move on its pivot over the datent Se to position edge es of arm 84 in slot 18 ofk arm 75 of interlock member 60.

The angle between arm 84 and 86 is less than 90 so that when the cover is moved to its closed positions for engaging interlock member 82 with interlock member 60, the edge 98 of arm 84 engages the inclined edge ||0 of arm 1S of member Gil, without said arm 34 being turned on its pivot by said engagement of said edge of the arm with said edge H0 of member 58. Further by reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 8, it will be noted that the open condition of the switch, detent moves the latter in a clockwise direction, viewl ing Fig. 8 for entering detent 80 in opening 95 of interlock member 82.

As here shown, a movable latch ||2 is preferably provided for holding the cover 'I2 releasably in closed position. Said latch is pivotally mounted adjacent the inner surface of the end wall lift of the casing by means of a pivot pin |15. The casing-cover is provided with a slot ||8 through which said latch projects when the cover is closed, said latch having a recess |23 in which the wall portion |22 of the cover at one end of slot i it is engaged. Said latch is held releasably in position to retain the cover in closed position by means of a spring |24 which is coiled around pin H5. One end of spring |24 engages a pin |25 ixed to casing wall lill and the other end of said spring engages latch ||2 in an opening |28 formed in said latch. Said latch is provided with an upper inclined edge portion |38 which is engaged by the edge |22 of the cover at the slot H3 for moving said latch in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 3, during the closing of the cover 'l2 to permit said cover to be closed. When the cover is closed and the switch is opened, latch member H2 is moved in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 3 in order to release the cover so that the latter can be moved to its open position.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 12 to 14, the insulation block I2 which carries the stationary contact members of the switch is secured to a plate |32 which has a raised intermediate portion |34 to provide a space |36 between the inner surface of casing wall 26 and said raised portion |36 for the ends of the screws |38 by which said insulation block is removably secured to member |32. The end portions |43 are secured to casing wall 26 in any suitable way as by spot welding said end portions |40 to said casing wall. It will be understood that as illustrated in Fig. 15 and as shown in the above mentioned patent, the insulation block is open at its rear so that it can be removed from the casing without removing operating rod 25 or the movable contact members carried thereby. Said rod extends through said block and is normally positioned in the open-end recesses M2 which are provided in the opposite end walls lili of said block.

As shown in the drawings, the cover is provided with a marginal cut-out portion |46 to expose an upper edge portion of disk part 36 of operating member @il and to allow movement of the handle part 3S of said operating member. The casing is provided with ledge portions |48 and |50 which are engaged by opposite edges of handle part 3S in the closed and opened positions, respectively, of the switch. Said casing parts |48 and i553 are provided with extensions |52 and i515 which together with the forwardly projecting part |55 of the casing form a slot in which handle part 33 is movable. Said handle part may be provided with an opening |58 and said casing part E55 may be provided with openings i513 and S52 to permit the handle part 38 of the operating member @il to be locked open or closed by of a lock, not shown.

In Figures i7 to 19 there is illustrated a movable contact member of a form which differs from the construction illustrated in Fig. 12 and in the above mentioned Patent No. 2,289,219. As here shown, thel movable contact member lA is U- shaped is iixed to the insulation disk IEA by a rivet the end E12 of said U-shaped contact member being received in a recess llt provided in the edge of disk |8A s0 that said U- shaped member cannot turn on said rivet. The free arm portions il@ oi contact member IEA are bent outwardly and thereby spaced from the adjacent surfaces of disk |8A. A U-shaped steel spring member E'ie abuts the outer surfaces of the U-shaped spring member for resiliently opposing the spreading oi portions llti of contact member icA and for holding them firmly in good electrical engagement with the stationary contact members. Spring member |18 is secured in position by the rivet Il by which the movable contact member is fastened to disk ISA. Tongues .353 are struck inwardly from spring member l'l and engage the sides of movable contact member 5A small apertures provided therein as illustrated in Fig. 18. In this form of the switch, the companion stationary contact member lll and ita" which correspond to the Contact members l and iii-ci, respectively, (Fig. l5) are received between the arms il@ and the adjacent sides of disk I3, respectively; in other words, when the switch is closed, the arms li of the movable contact member VSA engage over the outer surfaces of the companion stationary contact members le; and ita instead of being received between said contact members as in the case of the movable contact member iii and the companion stationary members lli and Mia illustrated lin Figs. 12, 13 and 15. t will be understood that the insulation disk itiA is mounted on the rod 2S and that in all other respects the assembly of the switch including the modied iorm of switch Contact members illustrated in Figs. i? to i9 is the same as that described above with reference to Figs. 12, 13 and 15. Further it will be noted by reference to Fig. 18 that the ends E32 of the stationary contact members are reflexed toward each other so as to more easily enter into engagement with the companion arms H6 of the movable contact member iSA.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the latter may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that in the illustrated embodiment certain changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea of this invention. Also it will be understood that one or more features of my invention may be used without using the other features thereof. Accordingly, as these and other changes may be made in the switch disclosed herein as the presently preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the invention as specically shown or described except to the extent which may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist l. In a switch having a casing provided with a cover movable from a closed position to an open position and means for operating the switch, an interlock between said cover and a part of said switch-operating means, said interlock comprising an interlock member carried by said cover, said cover-carried interlock member being pivotally mounted on said cover and having a part provided with an opening, an interlock member carried by said casing in position to engage said cover-carried interlock member in said opening, said casing-carried interlock member being pivotally mounted on the casing and pivotally movable from a position in which it normally engages said other pivotally movable interlock member to prevent said cover from being opened to a position in which it releases said other interlock member to permit the casing-cover to be opened, and means provided in a part of said operating means engageable with said casing-carried interlock member for preventing movement of the latter to its releasing position when the switch is closed, said cover-carried interlock member being pivotally movable from said position in which it is normally engaged by said casing-carried interlock member when the switch is closed and the cover is in c losed position to a position in which it is released from said casing-carried interlock member while the switch remains closed;

2. In a switch having a casing provided with a cover movable from a closed position to an open position and means for operating the switch, an interlock between said cover and a part of said switch-operating means, said interlock comprising an interlock member carried by said cover and pivotally mounted thereon, an interlock member carried by said casing and pivotally mounted thereon in position to engage said covercarried interlock member, said casing-carried interlock member having a detent at one end thereof and said cover-carried interlock member having a part provided with an opening and another .part in angular relation to said iirst mentioned part, said casing-carried interlock member being movable from a position in which said detent normally engages said other interlock member in said opening to prevent said cover from being opened to a position in which it releases said other interlock member to permit the casingcover to be opened, said other part of said other interlock member engaging said cover and thereby limiting pivotal movement of said other interlock member in one direction, said other part engaging said cover in the position of said other interlock member in which it is interlocked with said casing-carried interlock member, and means provided in a part of said operating means engageable with said casing-carried interlock member for preventing movement of the latter to its releasing position when the switch is closed, said cover-carried interlock member being pivotally movable from said position in which it is normally engaged by said casing-carried interlock member when the switch is closed and the cover is in closed position to a position in which it is released from said casing-carried interlock member while the switch remains closed, said interlock members being positioned in said casing and Said casing-cover providing access to said cover-carried interlock member, when the cover is closed, for moving the cover-carried interlock member to said last mentioned position thereof.

3. A switch having a casing provided with a cover movable from a closed position to an open position, means for opening and closing the switch, and an interlock between said operating means and said casing-cover comprising an interlock member pivotally mounted on said casing, said interlock member comprising a bell crank lever having one arm thereof provided with a detent, said operating mechanism comprising an operating member mounted for pivotal movement and provided with a recess in which said detent is engageable for preventing pivotal movement of said operating member, a companion interlock member pivotally mounted on said cover and having two arms disposed at an angle of less than one of said arms having an opening and being positioned to engage the other arm of said bell crank lever and the other of said arms being positioned to engage the cover for holding said one of the arms in operative engagement with the other arm of the bell crank lever, the other arm of said bell crank lever having a detent releasably engageable with said companion interlock member in said opening to hold the casing cover closed, said bell crank lever being released from said companion interlock member when said iirst mentioned detent engages said operating member in said recess whereby said casing Vcover can be moved to open position and said operating member is held against movement to switch-closing position when said cover is in said open position, and said operating member having a part engageable with said rst mentioned interlock member to prevent movement thereof for releasing the companion interlock member when said operating member is in the switch-closed position thereof, said interlock member being releasable in the closed condition of the switch by pivotal movement of said companion interlock member for withdrawing said one arm thereof from said engagement by said detent.

THOMAS M. COLE. 

